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The original Fort George Hotel was the first luxury hotel in Belize City - maybe one of the first in the country when it opened up in British Honduras in the 1950's.
Then in the late 80's - it took a huge leap forward when it built the first hotel tower in Belize and became the Radisson flag-ship.
But that franchise deal has ended after 30 years and the Radisson is no more - the hotel is back to its original name, Fort George, but this time it's the hotel and Spa.
It's Belize City's first boutique hotel, and the hope is that it will become a hub for tourists who either want to travel inland or to the cayes - and for those attending meetings at the new convention centre - which is yet to be built. Today Courtney Menzies took a tour of some of the amenities and the penthouse suite. Here is her story.
The word Radisson once loomed supreme over the city's skyline. But the Fort George is Radisson no more. Instead of a major chain hotel, they've transformed into a boutique five star luxury business hotel. It will be the only hotel of its kind in the city and a major investment in a municipality that isn't seen as a tourist destination.
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"I just got some of the plans this morning for the next wing there. They're, I think, opening the wing that used to be the old villa wing sometime next week, I think, and I got the tour of that. That's beautiful. I got the plans this morning for the colonial style wing and it is it is going to transform the entire era."
"I believe the investments from the Biltmore as well, upgrading their facilities and the investments by other people. Other investors across the city will help to boost tourism. We are missing a huge part that I believe we can attract to this country if we have the necessary investment and that's conventions. It does not have to be a 10,000 people convention, but 800 to 8000 people in the city would make a world of a difference."
Edison Trapp, Resort Manager, Fort Georfe Hotel & Spa
"I think Belize should be very, very proud of this product. Given the fact that we have included the local artisans as well as the local farmers, all of them helped to create this contemporary type luxury hotel in terms of the development where we are heading. As you know, we have been a Radisson since 1990, and that franchise agreement ended the 31st, which was yesterday. And so we think it's significant to begin a new start in February 1st separating as fort George Hotel and Spa."
Reporter:
"And what do you foresee as it comes to helping the tourism industry?"
Edison Trapp, Resort Manager, Fort Georfe Hotel & Spa
"Well, ownership management and staff have invested time and, of course, finance to produce the best product in Belize. And this is just the beginning. This is phase one of many phases to come. As you can see on the right hand side, we start in the club tower and we are hoping to have that complete by the end of this year to facilitate the demand in terms of inventory of our rooms."
And what can visitors expect? It boasts a very trendy and modern design and feel with many more facilities than the former Radisson
Edison Trapp, Resort Manager, Fort Georfe Hotel & Spa
"The new amenities currently at there Fort George Hotel and Spa include a gym and we partner with Burn Box to kind of administrate the gym operation for us. In addition to that, we have established ourself to have the best spa in Belize. And so that's very, very big for us. Hence the Fort George Hotel and Spa name. And of course, we have a beautiful, sexy plunge pool situated in the courtyard of the hotel."
The hotel is currently open, but it's far from finished because renovation on the other wing has just started.
The renovations on what used to be the vVilla Wing are finished and that side fo the hotel is in use. The work to rebuild the larger original Fort George Wing has commenced. The investment by the Ashcroft Allied Waterloo Group is slated to be around 50 million Belize dollars.
